Container for pneumatic carrier systems

ABSTRACT

An elongated container for holding articles having two symmetrical semicylindrical body sections which are hinged together along one of their adjacent longitudinal edges for movement thereabout. A cup-shaped cap is attached to one end of each body section with the open face of each cap adapted to move axially toward and away from the end of at least one of the body sections. Thus these caps when moved toward each other lock the two body sections together, and when moved away from each other permit the body sections to open about their hinge. These caps may be axially movable relative to the ends of both body sections by cam means against the bias of springs or magnets, or the body sections may move axially relative to each other to move the caps away from one body section. The outer faces of the caps may be provided with buffer pads to protect the container during handling and use thereof.

United States Patent FOREIGN PATENTS [72] Inventor Ra|phE.McClellan 4 3 3 4 2 UV. Nb S n r. 0 yH m 1 C m yk e e... G WK m 1 H 3 9 HA H nh l 8 I mu mH 9 6 v, 0 W. 9 am 3 m0 5 nn PA .m 9-11. h 9 0 91 s v 0 w y 0 v- MZ M TooMJ o. d N w n d m m AH? UM fi -7-4 [73] Assignee Meilink Steel Sate Company Toledo, Ohio ABSTRACT: An elongated container for holdin g articles havylindrical body sections which are ing two symmetrical semic CONTAINER FOR PNEUMATIC CARRIER SYSTEMS hinged together along one of their adjacent longitudinal edges f0 r movement thereabout. A cup-shaped cap is attached to 20 Claims, 11 Drawing Figs.

one end of each body section with the open face of each cap y toward and away from the end of at sections. Thus these caps when moved 0 body sections together, and

other permit the body sections se caps may be axially movable body sections by cam means gne'ts, or the body sections ove the caps away f the caps may be w e a r w vmo aTo o h .b

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Leaycraft 243/34 s to protect the container during han- 229/93 9/1904 Pfluger...

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PATENTED JUL20 I971;

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ATTOR NEY PATENTED JUL20 I971 saw u 0F 5 FIG. 9

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ATTORNEY PATENTED JUL20 l9?! SHEET 5 0F 5 MW rm: 31 a WW E man INVlz'NH R. 5 RALPH E MCCLELCAN ATTORN EY CONTAINER FOR PNEUMATIC CARRIER SYSTEMS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION A. Field of the Invention This invention relates to longitudinally hinged containers for use in pneumatic tube systems wherein the container is provided with means which positively lock it in a closed position when it slides within a pneumatic tube.

B. Description of the Prior Art Although longitudinally hinged containers are known in the prior art, their latching mechanisms are complex and/or are positioned within the container compartment and could interfere with the articles contained therein, see for example U.S. Pat. No. 242,459 issued on June 7, 1881. Moreover such containers are subject to opening during use when many articles are jammed therein, and thus may open and clog or obstruct the pneumatic tube.

Another problem of the prior art containers, such as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 769,233 issued on Sept. 6, 1904, is that if the container is openable by longitudinal movement, the container halves may twist relative to each other and become elongated within the tube, so that the container would not be able to negotiate the bends in the pneumatic tube.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A. Gist of the Invention Generally speaking, this invention embodies a longitudinally hinged two-section closed end container body having longitudinally or axially movable cup-shaped end caps, the sidewalls of which fit over the exterior surfaces adjacent the ends 01' the two-section container body when closed for normally locking these two sections in their closed position. These caps may be movably affixed to the ends of alternate complementary body sections, or these caps may be integrally secured to these ends when the two body sections are also Ion gitudinally movable relative to each other.

In the case of the movably affixed caps, cam means may be positioned between each cap and the end of its respective body section to move the cap away from this end for permitting opening of the container body sections. Springs or magnets may be provided to urge normally the caps into locking engagement with the two body sections. These cam means may be actuated by rotating in opposite direction or twisting the two end caps of the container, or by twisting knob means at the ends of the container which are separate from the caps.

In the case of integrally secured caps, the two body sections are joined together along one adjacent longitudinal edge by a sliding hinge means. In order to unlock these body sections the two caps are pulled apart axially against spring means in the sliding hinge that normally urges the two body sections into their locked position.

B. Objects and Advantages Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a longitudinally hinged two-part container with means for positively locking the two sections together, and which means will not interfere with the contents in the container compartment.

Another object of this invention is to provide a container with locking means which operate in opposite directions of rotation so that the container will not accidentally open when in use. i

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a simple, effective, efficient, economical and durable container for use in a pneumatic carrier system.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The above-mentioned and other features, objects, and ad vantages and the manner of attaining them are described more specifically below by reference to the embodiments of the invention shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. I is a plan view with some parts broken away of one embodiment of a container incorporating the features of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 2-,

FIG. 3 is a perspective view with some parts broken away of the embodiment shown in FIG. I with the container in its open position;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of a container which embodies a preferred form of the locking means of this invention;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view ofthe container shown in FIG. 4 in its open position with portions thereof broken away;

FIG. 6 is a diametrical cross section view taken in the direction of the arrows 6-45 of FIG. 4 showing one end locking cap according to this invention in its normal or locked position;

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 6, but showing the one end locking cap in its unlocked position and a portion of the container sections open;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the inside of one of the end caps shown in the embodiment of FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 with most of its adjacent container section broken away, showing a pin and slot cam arrangement;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a cap, similar to FIG. 8, but showing helical lugs and grooves integrally formed in the component parts;

FIG. 10 is a diametrical cross-sectional view of a cap similar to FIG. 6, but of another embodiment showing magnets instead of a spring for urging the end cap into engagement with the container body; and

FIG. 11 is a diametrical cross-sectional view ofa cap similar to FIG. 6, but of still another embodiment showing a wedge cam means for axially moving an end cap by rotation ofa knob separate from the cap.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A. The Axially Movable Body Section Container In FIGS. 1, 2, and 3 there is shown a longitudinally hinged pneumatic capsule or container to which may be made of metal or plastic, having two semicylindrical hollow complementary body sections 20 and 3t) hinged together by a pin 40 along one of their thickened adjacent longitudinal edges. This pin tl connects pairs of integrai longitudinally spaced knuckles 2] and 31 which project from each body section 20 and 30, respectively. Compression springs ll disposed between a knuckle 21 and a knuckle 31 of adjacent pairs of spaced knuckles surround the pin an and urge the body sections 20 and 30 to an axially retracted position as shown in FIG. 1. Each end 42 and 33 of at least one of the springs 41 may project transversely of its axis into apertures 27 and 37 in r the body sections 20 and 30, respectively, thereby torsionly urging these body sections 2119 and 36 toward their closed position (see FIGS. land 2).

The alternate ends 24 and 3 of each body section 20 and 30 are enclosed by inwardly facing cupshaped discs or caps 50 and 60, respectively. The caps and 60 may be fastened such as being welded, if made of metal, or adhesively bonded if made of plastic, as at Strand 66, respectively, to the ends 24 and 34 and have at least semicircular free portions 58 and 68 with upstanding cylindrical flanges or walls 53 and 63v As shown in FIG. l, the walls 53 and 63 of the caps 50 and 60 surround and snugly engage peripheral surfaces 28 and 38 of the adjacent ends of the complementary body sections 20 and 30. The ends adjacent the surfaces 223 and may be enclosed by integral semicircular transverse disc portions 26 and 36, respectively.

The free, partable, or separable thickened longitudinal adjacent edges of the body sections Eli? and 30 may be provided alternately with three sets of lugs 22, 22, 22" and 32, 32', 32" which project into elongated slots 33, 33', 33" and 23, 23, 23", respectively (see FIG. 3), to prevent relative twisting of the two body sections when they are in their closed posirespondingly different hundredths digits. Specifically, the eml bodiment shown in FIGS. 4 through 8 will have reference characters of the IOOseries, the embodiment of FIG. 9 will have the 200 series, the embodiment of FIG. 10 will have the 300 series, and the embodiment of FIG. 11 will have the 400 series.

Referring now to FIGS. 4 through 11, there are shown four embodiments of a pneumatic carrier tubular container 110, 210, 310 and 410 which comprise longitudinally hinged twosection compartmental bodies which are locked in a closed position by inwardly facing axially movable cup-shaped end caps, the inner cylindrical surfaces of the walls of which caps engage the outer cylindrical surfaces of the ends of the body sections.

2. The Clamshell-Type Container Bodies Referring primarily to FIGS. 4, 5, 9, l0 and I1, there are shown longitudinally hinged pneumatic containers I10, 210, 310 and 410 or portions thereof, made of molded and/or machined metal or plastic, respectively, each having two semicylindrical complementary clamshell-type body sections 120, I30; 220; 320, 330; and 420, 430, respectively. Each pair of body sections are hinged together by a pin I40, 340 and 440 along one of their adjacent longitudinal edges. These pins 140, 340, and 440 connect interleaved knuckles I2I, I3I; 321, 331; and 421, 431 which knuckles may be on leaves attached to each body section as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 or be integral with each body section as shown in FIGS. 5, 8, 9, I0

and I1 and circumferentially project from adjacent hinged edges of each body section 120, I30; 320, 330; and 420, 430, respectively. The free, thickened, partable, or separable longitudinal adjacent edges of the respective body sections are alternately provided with antitwisting means such as lugs 122 and 132 which project circumferentially into slots I33 and 123, respectively, (see FIG. for preventing relative twisting of each pair of body sections when they are in their closed positions.

The ends ofeach body section 120, 130; 220; 320, 330; and

420, 430 may be enclosed with integral semicircular transverse end plates or discs 124, I25, and 134, 135 such as shown for the embodiment I in FIG. 5, or circular end plates or discs 224, 324 and 424 for the embodiments shown in FIGS. 9, l0 and II, respectively. One end 124 of the body section 120 and the alternate end 135 of the body section 130 have integral therewith outwardly extending cylindrical flanges I26 and 136, and centrally disposed axial studs I27 and 137, respectively, the functions of which will be described hereinafter. These flanges 126 and 136 may be separate members as shown'in FIGS. 5, 6 and 7 affixed to the ends of the body sections as by welding if the body sections are made of metal or adhesively bonded if made of plastic. On the other hand, these flanges may be integrally formed with their respective body sections as shown in FIGS. 8, 9, l0 and II.

3. The Locking End Caps a. The Oppositely Rotatable Axially Movable Locking End Caps Referring now to FIGS. 4 through 8, the end I24 of one body section 120 and the opposite end 135 of the'other body section I30 are provided with locking end caps I50 and I60, respectively. Each of these caps I50 and 160 may be provided with end buffer pads I51 and I6I the peripheral edges of which may extend beyond the outside diameter of the container and caps. Between these buffer pads I51 and 161 there also maybe provided still larger diameter elastic discs I52, 162 to seal the container in its pneumatic tube.

For simplicity, only the end locking cap 150 will be described, since the only difference between these structures is that the caps are rotated in opposite directions.

As shown in FIG. 6, the axially extending cylindrical wall 153 of cap I50 surrounds the end cylindrical flange I26, and in its retracted position engages the peripheral surface 138 of the body section I30 locking this section closed to the complementary section 120. A conical compression spring l4I surrounds a stud or pin 127 of the body section 120 which stud I27 extends through a centrally located aperture 154 in the cap 150. One end of this spring 141 bears against the cap adjacent the aperture 154 and the other end of this spring 141 bears against a collar or stop I42 attached to the end of the stud 127 by a cap screw 143, thus urging the cap 150 into its locking position.

Cam means comprising a plurality of equally spaced angularly disposed or helical slots I29 are provided in the flange 126 of the body section 320. These slots I29 receive follower pins 155 which extend radially inwardly from the cylindrical wall I53 of the cap 150. Rotation ofthe cap 150 relative to the body sections 120 and IE0 will move the pins 155 in the helical slots 129 and the cap 250 axially away from the body sections 120 and 130, thus releasing the ends of body section 130 from the end of body section I20 (see FIGS. 5 and 7).

Instead of pins and slots shown in FIGS. 4 through 8, the cam and its follower may comprise angularly disposed grooves 229 molded in the flange 226 of the body 220 and angularly disposed lugs 255 integrally formed in the cap member 250, respectively as shown in the embodiment of FIG. 9.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. I0 instead of the spring 141, the cap 350 may be held in its retracted position by a pair of opposite polarity ring magnets 344 and 345.

The magnet 344 is secured to the face of the end plate or disc 324 of the container section 320, and the other magnet 345 is secured to the inner face of the cap 350. The outer end of the stud 327 in the center of the plate 324 mounts a collar 342 by means ofa cap screw 343, which collar acts as a stop to retain the cap 350 adjacent the edge of its central aperture 354, when the cap is rotated to separate the'magnets 344 and 345 by' action of its cam slot 329 and follower pins 355.

b. The Axially Movable Locking End Caps In the embodiment shown in FIG. II, keys 456 projecting radially inwardly from the inner surface of the cap walls 453 engage slots 457 in the body section end flange 426 to prevent the cap 450 from rotating, but permits it to move axially. A centrally disposed rotatable shaft 470 is secured to, such as by a shoulder bolt 47] and nut 472, and extends from the end disc '424 of the body section 420. A plate 473 secured to this shaft 470 for rotation therewith is provided with a plurality of cam wedges 474 which bear against complementary cam wedges 475 secured to the inner face of the cap 450 for axially moving the cap 450 toward and from the ends of body sections 420 and 430. A compression spring 44! is disposed between a collar 442 on the shaft we and the outer face of the cap 450 for urging the cap into its locked position. The outer end of this shaft 470 is provided with a wing or knob 476 for manually rotating the shaft and its wedge cam 474 for axially moving the cap 450 into its unlocked position.

I claim:

I. A longitudinally split tubular container comprising:

a. a pair of complementary container sections,

b. a hinge along adjacent edges of one side of each section to permit opening and closing of said sections like a clamsheli,

c. an axially movable flanged cap larger and surrounding one end of each section forming a seat within its flange for the adjacent end of the other section, and

d. means for urging said caps toward each other so that said sections are locked together by said flanges on said caps when said sections are closed.

2. A container according to claim I wherein said sections are hollow semicylinders closed at their ends. 

1. A longitudinally split tubular container comprising: a. a pair of complementary container sections, b. a hinge along adjacent edges of one side of each section to permit opening and closing of said sections like a clamshell, c. an axially movable flanged cap larger and surrounding one end of each section forming a seat within its flange for the adjacent end of the other section, and d. means for urging said caps toward each other so that said sections are locked together by said flanges on said caps when said sections are closed.
 2. A container according to claim 1 wherein said sections are hollow semicylinders closed at their ends.
 3. A container according to claim 1 wherein the ends of said container comprise plates, and means for connecting said caps to said plates.
 4. A container according to claim 1 wherein said caps are fixedly attached to said sections, and said hinge has knuckles and includes means for permitting axial movement of said sections with respect to each other.
 5. A container according to claim 4 wherein said urging means comprises a spring between adjacent knuckles of said hinge.
 6. A container according to claim 1 including means for movably attaching each cap to its container section.
 7. A container according to claim 1 wherein the openable edges of said sections opposite said hinge include lug means for interlocking said openable edges when in closed position.
 8. In a closed end tubular container which is longitudinally hinged to form two complementary parts openable about their hinge, the improvement comprising: a. axially movable flanged caps connected to complementary parts at each end of the container, and being larger and surrounding said ends, b. means for moving said caps away from each other to permit opening of said parts, and c. means for urging said caps toward each other to lock said parts together within and by the flanges of said caps when in closed position.
 9. A container according to claim 8 including pin and stop means for retaining said cap on its end of the container part.
 10. A container according to claim 8 wherein said urging means is located between each cap and its end of the container part.
 11. In a closed end tubular container which is longitudinally hinged to form two complementary parts openable about their hinge, the improvement comprising: a. caps connected to complementary parts at each end of the container, b. means for moving said caps away from each other to permit opening of said parts comprising means for rotating each cap with respect to its container part, and c. means for urging said caps toward each other to lock said parts together when in closed position.
 12. A container according to claim 11 wherein said moving means comprises cam means between said caps and their corresponding container parts for axially moving said caps as they are rotated with respect to each other.
 13. A container according to claim 8 wherein said urging means comprises a spring.
 14. A container according to claim 8 wherein said urging means comprises magnetic means.
 15. A container according to claim 8 including means for axially guiding the movement of said caps.
 16. In a closed end tubular container which is longitudinally hinged to form two complementary parts openable about their hinge, the improvement comprising: a. caps connected to complementary parts at each end of the container, b. means for rotating each cap with respect to its contaIner part, c. means for moving said caps away from each other to permit opening of said parts comprising cam means between said caps and their corresponding container parts for axially moving said caps as they are rotated with respect to each other, and d. means for urging said caps toward each other to lock said parts together when in closed position.
 17. A container according to claim 16 wherein said rotatable means includes a cam means mounted between said rotatable means and its container part. 18 A hollow capsule for a pneumatic dispatching system, comprising: a. a body having first and second clamshell-type sections, b. hinge means along adjacent edges of each section to permit opening and closing of said sections, c. a first plate connected to one end of the first section and overlying an end of the second section, d. a second plate connected to the opposite end of the capsule and to the other end of the second section and overlying the other end of the first section, e. at least one cap movably mounted on at least one of said plates for locking the first and second body sections in a closed position, and unlocking the body sections for movement into an open position, and f. means for urging said cap into its locking position.
 19. A capsule according to claim 18 including cam means for moving said cap between its open and closed positions.
 20. A hollow capsule for use in a pneumatic carrier system comprising: A. an elongated body having a. a pair of like sections, b. hinge means along adjacent edges of one side of said sections, c. a plate at one end of each section, and d. a cam at said ends of said sections, B. a cap movably mounted on each said plate, a. a cam follower mounted on each cap for engagement with said cam for moving said caps away from their sections for unlocking said sections to permit their opening, and b. means for normally urging said caps into engagement with their sections for locking said sections in their closed position. 